Monthly Archives: August 2017

Certified professional photographer and Canal Connection Chamber member D. Brent Walton and fellow professional photographer Paul Bardotz are leaving Palmyra on Labor Day morning and heading to Chicago on a well-publicized trip that will offer opportunities for advertising for local businesses.

Historical Route 66

Why Chicago? Because Chicago is where former U.S. Route 66 starts its journey to California. Before the interstate system (started by President Eisenhower), Route 66 was how people traveled from northeastern U.S. to California. John Steinbeck mentions Route 66 in The Grapes of Wrath. When Interstate 40 was built, many of the small towns along Route 66 dried up and died. Some became ghost towns of an era when cars often broke down on long trips. Interstates and more reliable cars eventually caused the federal government to decommission Route 66 as a U.S. Highway.

Walton took a liking to Route 66 when he drove a short section about 15 years ago. He became determined at that time to drive end-to-end some day. Not wanting to drive it alone (and the thought of a road trip of this nature isn’t his wife’s idea of fun), he began looking for another photographer. While attending an advanced photography course, Walton invited classmate Bardotz to join him. They have spent the last year planning the trip.

“Much of Route 66 no longer exists. Our plan is to explore and find these missing pieces where possible,” Walton explains. “We will take our time, and photograph as much as possible, and we’ll share that with the world.”

Low-Cost Advertising Options Available

Local business can benefit from this trip by advertising during the tour. For as little as $25, businesses can sponsor a meal and get linked to their website and mentioned in their blog and vlog that day.

“Bay Photo Labs, Republic Wireless, Alien Skin Software, Topaz Labs, Anthropics Software ACDSee Software and MoLight will be brands you’ll hear us talk about. We plan to tie advertising in with where we’re at so won’t seem like we’re throwing commercials at our followers and views. For example, we’ll post our vlog and simply say, ‘We are able to vlog live from Route 66 thanks to Republic Wireless providing us with Internet service’.” explains Walton.

When it comes to meal and day sponsors, mentions might sound like, “We’re having lunch at the Route 66 Burger thanks to XYZ Corporation from Macedon, New York.” Or, “Last night we stayed at the Route 66 Inn here in Oklahoma thanks to the generosity of the ABC Firm in Palmyra, New York.”

After the tour, they plan to leave their website up as a comprehensive guide to America’s Main Street, the Mother Road, Historic Route 66.

Businesses interested in having an ad mention during this tour can contact Brent Walton at brent@dbwalton.com.

Each year, Americans generate more than 250 million tons of garbage, of which we recycle almost 100 million tons. Garbage isn’t something that we like to think about very often, but the work of our country’s landfill and recycling companies is vital for keeping our areas clean and reducing the possibility of illness.

In our area, Waste Management (WM) is one such company, and they are the Canal Connection Business of the Month for August. WM is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. They provide services that range from collection and disposal for individuals and businesses to recycling and renewable energy generation.

At High Acres Landfill, the Focus is Sustainability

In our Palmyra/Macedon/Walworth area, WM is represented by High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center. A division of Waste Management of New York, LLC, the facility has provided environmentally responsible solid waste management to the region since 1971. High Acres provides organics recycling, renewable energy production, and wildlife habitat management. It’s a non-hazardous facility with operating permits from the NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation.

High Acres Nature Trail

Located on roughly 1,000 acres straddling the Perinton/Macedon border, the facility is far more than a garbage dump. It includes the award-winning High Acres Nature Area, 250 acres of community trails, wildlife habitat protection, and interactive learning options. It’s certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council, and welcomes the public to come and walk, jog, run, or ski the four miles of trails.

Renewable Energy is Key

Today’s modern, engineered landfill is an environmentally sound system for waste disposal. Landfills offer a clean, renewable energy resource that is generated through the decomposition of the waste. This resource is called landfill gas, and it’s a natural byproduct of waste as it decomposes.

Some landfills collect this gas and burn it—destroying a substance that can, when used properly, can bring great benefit to our communities. At High Acres, this gas is used to create green energy, by turning it into electricity. The facility generates enough energy to power nearly 10,000 homes and replace 180,000 barrels of oil each year.

All are Welcome

Scout Day at High Acres

You might not think that visiting a landfill would be much fun, but at High Acres, frequent events showcase the facility and provide an afternoon of entertainment and learning for the whole family. An annual open house features local vendors, demonstrations, and free food. Girl and Boy Scouts and school groups often tour the facility to learn more about the waste cycle and picnic at the Nature Area. Three baseball fields at High Acres are maintained by WM for the enjoyment of area residents. WM also provides an area on the landfill property for a training facility used by local fire departments.